Spring motors



March 21, 1961 R. Ml WORTHINGTON 2,975,866

SPRING MOTORS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 30, 1959 March 21, 1961 R. M. woRTHlNGToN SPRING MOTORS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 30. 1959 ,ilnired gratas Farenr p 2,975,866 Patented Mar. 21, 1961 srRiNG Morons Robert M. Worthington, Bristol, Pa., assigner to Graco Metal Products, Inc., Elverson, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Nov. 30, 1959, Ser. No. 856,039

4 Claims. (Cl. 18S-3S) This invention relates to spring motors and more particularly to spring motors having a simple escapement.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a spring motor that is simple in construction and reliable in operation and use.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a spring motor that is capable of providing power with a force successively applied in opposite directions.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a spring motor suitable for operation in any disposition.

lt is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved escapement that is suitable for the operation of toy cradles, doll swings and other devices.

Many escapements of the ordinary type heretofore available are so constructed that the power impulse produced has been applied in only one direction so that jerky operation and stalling of the motor occurs. The mechanism of the present invention overcomes this defect and produces smooth operation with a successive force application in both directions.

Other objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the description and claims.

The nature and characteristic features of the invention will be more readily understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part thereof, in which:

Figure l is a front elevational view of a spring motor in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the spring motor as seen from the right of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the motor showing the mandrel and its attached springs, taken alpng the line 3--3 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the mandrel and one of the power springs attached thereto, taken along the line 4 4 of Fig. l.

It should, of course, be understood that the description and drawings herein are illustrative merely and that various modications and changes can be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

The spring motor in accordance with the invention, in its various embodiments, includes a spring mandrel, with two power springs, one wound right hand and the other wound left hand carried thereon, and an escapement mechanism for the controlled application of power to a device to be operated such as a swing, cradle, or the like.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, a frame 7 is provided with a spring mandrel 8 mounted therein. The mandrel 8 is preferably made of wood and has a pin 9 in engagement with one end thereof. The pin 9 is journaled in an opening 10 in a bracket arm 11, forming part of the frame 7. The other end of the spring mandrel 8 has a shank 12 extending therento and in engagement therewith for movement therewith.

rPhe shank 12 is rotatably supported in an opening 14 in a bracket arm 15, forming part of the frame 7, and has a crank 16 on the outer end thereof for winding.

The shank 12 has a cup shaped ratchet wheel 17 secured thereto for rotation with the mandrel 8. The ratchet wheel 17 preferably has exterior teeth 18 with inclined faces 18a and 18b and interior teeth 19.

The mandrel 8 has one end of a helical power spring 20 secured thereto at 8a, the other end ofthe power spring 20 having a hooked portion 21 engaging a wall portion 22 of a driving frame 23 and held by bent over retaining tongues 24 and 25 by an inbent portion 26 of the wall portion 22 of the frame 23. The power spring 20 is wound of predetermined hand, shown as left handed.

The driving frame 23 is pivotally mounted on the shank 12 by a mounting ear 23a.

Another or second power spring 28 is provided attached 4to the mandrel S at 8b and secured to the frame 7 by a projection 30 extending therefrom. The power spring 28 is wound of predetermined hand preferably opposite to that of the spring 20 and is shown as right handed. The coils of the springs 20 and 28 are preferably of larger diameter in unwound condition than the exterior diameter of the mandrel 8. k

The frame 7 is provided with spaced projections 31 with a shaft 32 for pivotally mounting a dog 33 by mounting ears 33a. The dog 33 has an arm portion 34 which has an inner edge 35 which is adapted for ratchet engagement. The arm portion 34 is bent at an angle with respect to the main portion of the dog 33 to permit the teeth of the ratchet wheel 17 to move dog 33 out-n wardly upon movement of the ratchet wheel 17 in a counterclockwise direction as seen in Fig. 2. In the inward position of the dog 33 the edge 35 engages at the root of one of the teeth 18 of the ratchet wheel 17 (cf. Fig. 2).

One side portion of the dog 33 has a spring receiving hook 36 formed thereon as shown in Fig. 1.

A ratchet frame or carrier bracket 37 is provided (see Figs. l and 2) swingably mounted on the shank 12 withv spaced bracket plates 3S and 39 connected by a plate 46 and swingably mounted by the mounting ear 23a. at the opposite end from the plate 39. The bracket plateY 38 has a plate 50 extending therefrom with spaced downwardly extending bracket arms 51 and 52, which assembly forms a mounting for a pawl 53. The pawl 53 has opposite pivot pins 54 therein for pivotal engagementin the bracket aims 51 and 52. The pawl 53 is provided with a tongue 55 for engagement with the teeth 18 of the ratchet wheel 17. The pawl 53 has an inner controlY iinger 58 bent at an angle so as to be actuated by the teeth 19 upon movement of the ratchet wheel 17 which upon faster than normal rotation of the ratchet wheel 17 moves the pawl 53 inwardly to engage the tongue 55 thereby providing a safety device. The pawl 53 hasA a spring receiving hook 60 for attachment of a spring. 61..`

Referring first to Figs. l and 2, the spring 61 as therey shown is preferably formed as a helical springand with a plurality of turns 61a for engagement over the hook, 60 of the pawl 53,a plurality of turns 61b for engage-v ment over the hook 36 of the dog 33 and an intermediate portion 61e having a plurality of helicalturns acting in tension with the turnssof the. portion 61C s eparated or in compressionV with the respective turnsfvoi the portion 61e abutting andy tending to buckle.

The spring 61 in compression urges the tongue portion of the pawl 53 into engagement with one of the teeth 18 of the ratchet wheel 17 `and the edge 35 of the dog 33 out of tooth engagement. In tension, the spring 61 urges the edge 35 of the dog 33 into engagement with one of the teeth 18 of the ratchet wheel 17 and at the same time urges the tongue portion 55 of the pawl 53 out of ratchet tooth engagement. The' carrier bracket 37 has an upwardly extending slotted driving arm 90 for the reception ofan otset portion '91- of a driving arm 92 connected to a rocker shaft 93. Y

TheA driving frame 23 is connected to the plate 50 by an integral plate 94.

The mode of operation will now be pointed out.

The power springs 20 and 28 are wound onto the mandrel 8 by turning the winding crank 16 in a counterclockwise direction as seen in Fig. 2 taken'from the right of Fig. 1. The power springs 20 and 28 are effective for imparting a turning force or turning forces onto the mandrel 8 to actuate the rocker shaft 93. An oscillating movement of the rocker shaft 93 is effected by reason of the escapement provided by the pawl 53 and the dog 33.

As hereinafter more fullypointed out, a power impulse or force is imparted both upon clockwise and counterclockwise movement of the carrier bracket 37. If only a single power impulse is desired, either power spring alone could be employed. However, in order to improve the impulse application, the opposite spring is added.

Assuming first that the rocker shaft 93 is in the position shown in Fig. 2 and that the mandrel 8 and shank 12 are moving in a clockwise direction with the tongue 55 in engagement with a tooth 18 and with the pawl 33 out of engagement, a full impulse is applied to the right by the spring 28. At this time the spring 20 is locked out by the tongue S. As movement in this direction continues, the edge 35 of the dog 33 is pulled into engagement with one of the teeth of the ratchet wheel 17 by the actuator spring y61 which has been brought to a condition of tension by this movement.

Inertia continues the exi-sting clockwise movement allowing the tongue 55 to be pulled from engagement with the ratchet wheel 117.

The direction of movement of the ratchet frame 37 now changes to a counterclockwise movement from the impulse applied by the spring 20 onto the driving frame 37. At this time the spring 28 is lockedout by the pawl 33. As the movement of the ratchet frame 37 continues, the tongue S5 of the pawl 53 is urged into engagement with the tooth of the ratchet wheel 17 below the tooth previously engaged, this being accomplished by the spring "61 which has now buckled.

Inertia continues the existing counterclockwise movement allowing the tongue 35 of the pawl -33 to be pushed out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 17. The direction of movement `of the ratchet frame 37 now changes to a clockwise movement from the impulse by the spring 28. At this time the spring Ztl is locked out by the tongue 55. As the movement ofthe ratchet frame 37 continues, the tongue 35 of the pawl 33 is pulled into engagement with the tooth of the ratchet wheel 17 below the tooth previously engaged.

It will thus be seen that by the use of the multiple springs 20 and 28 in their relation to the mandrel 8 4and ratchet Wheel 17 with the connection of the end of the spring 20 through the plate 94 and the connection of the spring 28 to the frame 7 forces are applied in opposite directions to provide a smooth operation of the ratchet frame 37.v

I claim:

1. A spring motor comprising a supporting frame, a

shaft mounted in said frame, a iirst power spring havingv one end connected to said shaft, a ratchet wheel secured to said shaft, a second power spring having one end secured to said shaft and theother end secured to said frame, a driving frame pivotally mounted on said shaft, a connecting member from the other end of said iirst power spring to said driving frame, a power take oft member to which said driving frame is operatively connected, interconnected ratchet escapement members one of which is carried by said driving frame and the other of which is carried by said first mentioned frame for alternate engagement with said ratchet wheel, said iirst power spring applying a force in a predetermined direction to said driving frame and said power take off member and said second power spring applying a force in an opposite direction through said shaft and said ratchet wheel and through said one of said escapement members to said driving frame and said power take off member. Y

2. A spring motor as defined in claim 1 in which said iirst power spring and said second power spring are helical springs mounted for opposed force application.

3. A spring motor comprising a supporting frame, a shaft mounted in said frame, a first helical power spring disposed around and having one end connected to said shaft, a ratchet wheel secured to said shaft, a second helical power spring disposed around and having one end secured to said shaft and the other end secured to said frame, -a driving frame pivotally mounted on said shaft, a connecting member from the other end of said tirst power spring to said driving frame, a power take 0E member to which said driving frame is operatively connected, interconnected ratchet escapement members one of which is carried by said driving frame and the other of which is carried by said iirst mentioned frame for alternate engagement with said ratchet wheel, said iirst power spring applying a force in a predetermined direction to said driving frame and said power take off member and said second power spring applying a force in an opposite `direction through said shaft and said ratchet wheel and through said one of said escapement members to said driving frame and said power take ott member.

4. A spring motor comprising a supporting frame, a shaft mounted in said frame, a crank for initially rotating said shaft for winding, a iirst helical power spring mounted on said shaft 4and having one end connected to said shaft intermediate the ends of the shaft, a ratchet wheel lsecured to said shaft, a second helical power spring mounted on said shaft and having one end connected to said shaft intermediate the ends of the shaft, said second spring having the other end thereof secured to said frame, a driving frame pivotally mounted on said shaft, a connecting member from the other end of said trst power spring to said driving frame, a power take otf member to which said driving frame is operatively connected, interconnected ratchet escapement members one of which is pivotally carried by said driving frame and the other of which is pivotally carried by said iirst mentioned frame for alternate engagement with said ratchet wheel, said iirst power spring applying a force in a predetermined direction to said driving frame and said power take off member and said second power spring applying a force in an opposite direction through said shaft and said ratchet wheel and through said one of said escapement members to said driving frame and said power take off member.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

